MAPUSA: Crowd favourites Calangute Association showed maturity but eventually bowed down to substitute Bikash Jairu’s 77th minute match-winner in a 3-2 loss to league leaders Salgaocar Football Club, in GFA’s Goa Professional League, round nine football match, at Duler Stadium, here, Tuesday.
The winners led 2-1 at half time. The Green Brigade have now collected 20 points from a possible 24 and still have a match in hand and will take on Churchill Brothers on October 14.
Augustin Fernandes put The Green and Whites ahead but Calangute equalized through Jeevan Nalge. Thangjam Singh scored the second for the table toppers before the break but their opponents bounced back after changing ends through Felix Odili’s header.
However, Bikash came out from the bench and eventually scored the match-winner.
Calangute Association are in the ninth spot in the standings with four points but with today’s performance, head coach Agustin Dias will be happy the determination his side showed which will play a key role in the relegation league.
Salgaocar were paid for their attacking approach in the 10th minute when center-back Augustin Fernandes leaped highest to head in a Thangjam Singh delivery past Calangute custodian Gerard D’Mello.
At the other end, Calangute, backed by their vociferous supporters, responded quickly. Nigerian front man Felix Odili showed good presence of mind and cleverly back heeled the ball to teammate Jeevan Nalge and the medio fired past rival keeper Albino Gomes to make it 1-1.
However, Calangute hardly finished celebrating when Salgaocar scored their second, minutes later through hard-working Thangjam, who capitalized on a defensive error.
Calangute crawled their way back into the match as they restored parity, six minutes after resumption. Jeevan made good use of a set-piece to set up Odili and the 24-year did not disappoint with a powerful header to put his team back into the fray.
The match became lively as it entered the final quarter. Salgaocar did much of the attacking but keeper Gerard left them frustrated on two occasions. First, fisting over Gilbert Oliveira’s rasping long ranger and then, when he denied Pawan Kumar from close.
However, Gerard was beaten in the 77th minute. Salgaocar coach Derrick Pereira’s substitution did prove worthy as Bikash nailed in a fierce grounder to secure three points.
